Rotary explosive-motor.



O, A. MARLITT.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVB MOTOR.V

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12.,l9C3.

No. 763,773. Y

N0l MODEL.

Liz/W PATBNTED JUNE 28, 1904. ...0. A..MARL1TT. ROTARY 'EXPLGSIVE MoToR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l2. 1903l 6 SHEETSj-SHBBT Z.

NO MODEL.

No. 763,773. A PATENTE ,JUNE 28., 1904.

O. A. MARLITT.

ROTARY BXPLOSIVB MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12, A903. N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

O. A. MARLITT. ROTARY EXPLOSIVE MOTOR.`

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 12. 1903.

6 SHEETS--SHEET i N0 MODEL.

No. 76377 3 PATBNTBD JUNE 28, 1904. O. A. MARLITT.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 12.1903.

NO MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

C. A. MARLITT. 'v ROTARY EXPLOSIVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l2. 1903.

G SHEETS`SHBET G NO MODEL.

ttozucv UNITED STATESl Patented June 28, 190 1.

PATENT Orifice.

CHARLES A.v MARLITT, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

ROTARY l-:xPLoslve-llwlorc'm'.A

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,773, dated June 2,8, 1904. u Application led March 12, 1903. Serial No. 147,486. `(No model.)

To (LH, whom it may concern:

4 Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MARLITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have'invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Explosive-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

f This invention retates to rotary explosivemotors, the object in view being to provide a motor or engine embodyinga continuously-rotating piston driven by the explosion of successive charges of air and gas mixed in the -I proper proportion and forced into the cylinder, the piston being connected to the main shaft for imparting its rotary motion thereto.

The present invention has particular reference to the construction of the piston and cylinder, together with the parts immediately asl for obtaining close joints between the wings 1 inder.

valves in section.

of the piston and the walls of thecylinder and at the same time providing for automatically taking up wear between the piston and cyl- AlVith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists inthe novel construction, combination,

- and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section taken through a rotary explosive-engine in line with the main driven shaft, the latter also being partly broken out in section .to illustrate a portion of the lubricating device.` Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken' through'the cylinder, piston, and

main driven shaft. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the engine,"showing one of the admission- Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken near one side of the engine and illustratig the construction and arrangement of the needle-valve, throttle-valve, vaporizingvalve, and passages leadlng from the mlxlnginvention comprises, essentially, a cylinder l, Y.

provided with double walls to form a Waterjacket, containing a water-space 2, encircling` the outer curved wall and also extending along' the side walls or heads of the cylinder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the water entering through an inlet-pipe 3 and exhausting through anoutlet-pipe 4, arranged, respectively, at or near the bottom and top of the y engine, thus providing for a constant circulation of water through all parts of the casing or cylinder of the engine.

Vithin the cylinder is mounted a rotary piston 5, fixed upon the main shaft 6, So as to impart its rotary motion thereto. The shaft 6 is arranged eecentrieally of the cylinder, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to bring the piston at one point in close relation to the inner curved wall of the cylinder, the drawings representing such point as located at the top of the cylinder. The piston comprises a rim 7 a hub 8, and a spider or sries of spokes 9, connecting the rim with the hub, as

shown in Fig. 2. The rim 7 comprises twov yparts which are sufficiently separated to leave between them a channel or way 1U, in which' piston-wings 11 are mounted to reciprocate in lines radial or diametrieal to the shaft 6. The piston 5 is also provided with inwardlyextending parallel anges 12 to give the proper length of bearing to the piston-wings, and at opposite sides the walls `of the channel 10 are providedwith recesses 13, in which is placed packing of any suitable description to afford close fluid-tight joints between the piston and its wings'as the latter reciprocate.

. Each of the wings 11 comprises parallel side or cheek portions 14, connected at their outer ends b y means of a concavo-convex wall 15, f substantially semieireular in cross-section and extremity of the wing, and thus said packing is free to adjust itself to the various angles which it must assume in each complete revolution of the piston, two different positions tact between the wings and cylinder. of the wings is also jointed or made sectional by of the piston being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.

The wings 11 areforced outward away from the hub 8 of the pist-on by means of curved Hat wing thrust-springs 18, mounted on a shouldered rod 18', which plays through an opening in the main shaft 6 and holds the springs in contact with the wings. The tension of the springs is just sufficient to hold the packing-pieces 16 in Contact with the curved inner wall of the cylinder. In the operation of the engine the compression of air within the piston and the action of centrifugal force both contribute to aid the springs in maintaining a close fluid-tight con- Each dividing the same, as shown at 19, thus allowing the compressed air within the piston to force the sections apart to compensate for wear and maintain a close joint between the ends of the wings and the cylinder-heads. The -yielding abutments or packings 16 are also jointed or made sectional, being divided on the line 20, thus enabling the sections to move apart and maintain a close joint hetween their end portions and the cylinder-heads. rlhe sections of the paeking'16 are also provided with dov-etailed extensions or ribs 21, which fit into eorrespondingly-shap'ed recesses in the outer corners of the wing-sections. lhis dovetailed engagement holds the packing-,sections in proper position on the end portions of the wings and at the same time permits theV packing-sections to adjust themselves by oscillation, as they necessarily change their angle or position with respect to the wings and the curved inner wall of the cylinder.,

The cylinder-head 22 is stationary, while the opposite. cylinder-head 23 is adjustable, being journaled and adapted to be turned upon a large hollow water-jacketed trunnion or bearing 24, whichis connected rigidly with the frame ofthe engine by means of a spider 25, comprising at its outer poi-tion a rim or flange 26, which is bolted or otherwise secured, as

shown at 27, to the engine-frame, so as to overlap the outer edge or periphery of the cylinder-head 23, as shown at 23, and keep said cylinder-head in position, while allowing the 'cylinder-head to be turned sufficiently to materiallyehange the point of location of the igniting device which is carried by said cylinder-head 23.

At a suitable point on the cylinder-head 23, and preferably neai' the top of the engine, said cylinder-head is extended or enlarged to form aWater-jacketed ignition or combustion chamber 29,in which are located the electrodes 3U, and 31 of the ignition device. The shank of the electrode 30 extends in radial alinement with the axis of the shaft 6 and has its inner end enlarged to form a bearing 32, which rests against a cam 33, rotating with the shaft 6 and made adjustable thereon by -means of a set-screw '34, by means of which the time of the throw of the electrode 30 may be regulated accurately. The electrode 30 is normally pressed toward the shaft 6 by means of a coiled spring 35,which bears against the head or bearing 32, and is arranged in a recess in the extended ignition-chamber of the cylinder-head 23, as shown in Fig/1. The shank of the electrode 31 extends at right angles to that of the electrode 30 and is slidingly mounted in an insulator sleeve or bushing 36, passing through the outer wall of the ignition-chamber 29 and being provided rron the outside of the enginewith a collar 37, held in place by a nut 38 and having connected therewith at opposite sides springs 39, which at their opposite ends connect withv bracketsor lugs 40, having a fixed relation to the cylinder-head 23. Anut 41 on the threaded shank of the electrode 31 bears against a fianged plug 42 atthe outer end of the ignition-chamber and serves to limit the inward movement of the electrode 31,while the springs 39 yield to allow the electrode to recede outward underthe action of the other electrode 31. It will he understood that as the shaft 6, with its cam 33, revolves one complete reciprocatory movement will be imparted to the electrode 30 in each complete revolution of the shaft. The electrodes 30 and 31 are provided with inclined meeting surfaces, as shown in Fig. 1, and therefore as the electrode 30 vmoves outward it acts 'on the electrode 31 to force the latter outward. After the electrode 30 passes the electrode 31 the latter springs inward, and upon the return movement of the electrode 30 the electrode 31 is again forced outward and released, so as to be thrown inward by the springs 39. Thus two sparks are made at each complete revolution of the shaft 6,\causing two explosions to take place one after the other on opposite sides of the wings of the piston.

.It will also be understood from the foregoing description that the igniting device as a whole is mounted upon and carried by the adjustable cylinder-head 23, and for the purroo pose of moving said cylinder-head and adjusting the igniting device said headis provided with a lever extension 43 and also with a Ipointcr or indicator 44, which extends over the periphery or outer surface of the cylinder, as shown in Figs.` 1 and 3. If desired, the outer surface of the cylinder may be grad- .uated for the purpose of enabling the igniting device to be accurately adjusted, the gradua- IO tions being placed near the point of the indicator 44, so as to be used in connection therewith, Thus the igniting device may be set to cause an explosion at any desired point in the throw of the piston-wings without dis# I 5 turbing the relation of any other parts of the engine. r

The gasolene or' other oil is introduced through the supply-nipple 45, (shown in Figs.

2 and 4,) and said oil is admitted through a passage 46 to the throttle-valve 47, which is provided with a passage 48, which by turning the-throttlervalve may be brought to-register swith'lthe passage 46y or thrown out of alinemeut therewith for cutting 0E the supply of `2 5 oil. The oil thus admitted to and through the throttle-valve 47 passes to the center of `said valve through a channel 494 and thence through an axialopening 50 downward to the vaporizing-valve 5l, the passage 50 being controlled by means'of a needle-valve 52, screwed into the throttle-valve and provided at its outer end with a knurled head 53 for the purpose of accurately and finely adjusting the same. The throttle-valve is provided with a central extension 54, in which is received the hollow stem 55 of the vaporizing-valve. By

reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the body of the .vaporizing-valve consists, substantially, of a pair of flat disks set slightly 49 apart,`so as to form an annular vdat oil-space 56, said space communicating with'the bore in the hollow stem 55. The space 56 leads outward to the outer cone-shaped on..beveled edge of the vaporizing-valie, where t bears against the valve-seat 57. The oil is therefore delivered from the vaporiZing-valve in the form of a thin annular film, .where itis caught up by the air passing upward from the passage 38, as will hereinafter appear. The

vapo'iZing-valve is normally held seated by means of'a spiral spring 59, interposed between the body of said valve and the throttle- Valve, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The throttle-valve 47 is provided with a conical rim 60, fitting tightly within a correspondingly-shaped easing 61, and said rim at a suitable point is provided with a port 62, through which the explosive mixture is forced to one or the other of a pair'of oppositely-extending 60 passages 63, each of said passages communiveating with au admission-valve 64.l These admission-Valves are located on opposite sides of the piston, so that by turning the throttlevalve the gas may be caused to pass to one or the other of the admission-valves and into the corresponding side of the cylinder, thus enabling the engine to be reversed and operated in either direction at the will of the operator. The throttle-'valve 47 is turned or thrown by means of a hand-lever 65, mounted on the upwardlyextending portion of. said valve, as shown in Fig. l. v

'Air is admitted to the inside of the piston through an air-inlet pipe 66 and being confined between the piston -wingsis partly compressed and forced into the passage 58, where it acts to unseat the vaporizing-'valve 56, lows the oil to liow in a thin lilm frees the vaporizing-Valve, so that. it is caught up by the escaping air and together thererewith carried into the mixing-chamber within the throttlevalve, from whence itescapes through one of the -passages 63 to the eorrespondingadmisi' i sion-valve 64 and thence into the cylinder at one side of the piston, where at the proper point of throw of the piston the charge of ex- 4plosivemixture is ignited and exploded, the

explosion of the gas acting against the pistonwing which has passed beyond the admission-valve, and thereby propelling or driving the piston.

67 represents an exhaust-port, preferably located at the bottom of the cylinder and communicating with the exhaust-chamber 68, from which the exhaust is carried olf through a pipe 69.

In order to lubricate the parts of the e'ngine, the upper wall of the engine may be provided with an opening 70 to receive a suitable oil-cup, which will supply oil to the curved inner surface of the cylinder. In order to lubricate the piston-wings and thewalls of the piston with which the wings 'come incontact, one end of the shaft 6 is preferably made hollow or provided with a central bore 71, in the end of which is inserted a lubricant-supply pipe 72. At its inner end the bore 71 is provided with branches 7 3, 'which open out at opposite sides of the shaft into a diametrically-arranged oil-passage 74. The passage 74 in turn communicates with other parallel passages 75, leading through the web portions 76 of the piston, andthe passages 75 are provided at their opposite extremities with,inwardlyextending branches 77, which open through the opposite inner surfaces of lubricate said walls and also the outer surfaces of the parallel sides 14 of the pistonwings.

The throttle-'lever 65 is preferably provided with a pointer or indicator 78, and the head of the needle-valve is graduated, as shown at 79, so as vto enable theY needle-valve to be readily adjusted to regulate the flow of gasolene. 8O represents a stuliing-box for thev throttle-valve.

The explosion occurs approximately when the piston-wings are inthe position illustratedin Fig. 6. For the 'sake of explana- IOO the walls of the passage o1' way 10, so as to tion let it he supposed that the explosion I 'by means of its spring and the advancing wing' crowds the charge before it and compresses it, suiiieient space being left between the piston and the cylinder to allow the charge to get past that point and into they spaceon the opposite side oi' the piston, where when the wings again reach the position shown in Fig. 6 another explosion occurs. This operation occurs twice with each complete revolution of the piston.

The rod 18 has a central bore or passage, as shown, for conducting.; oil intermittently from the chamber 75 to the piston-wings to keep the latter lulu-icated.

,Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. A rotary explosive-motor, comprising a cylinder, a piston mounted therein, and provided with a diametrical channel and an inlet thereto, a mixing-chamber communicating with said channel and with the cylinder, and piston-wings mounted to reciprocate in the channel, and constructed to compress the air in the channel and force the same into said mixing-eln-` nbcr.

2. A rotary explosive-motor, comprising a cylinder, a mixing-chamber connecting therewith, a piston mounted in the cylinder, and

provided with a diametrical channel and anv inlet thereto, means Jfor admitting air to said channel, and piston-wings mounted to reciprocate in the channel and force the air from the latter into the mixing-chamber under compression. V l

3. rotary explosive-motor, comprising a cylinder, a mixing-chamber connecting therewith, a piston mounted in the cylinder, and

provided with a diametrical channel and an 4air-inlet thereto, and piston-wings mounted face of said cylinder.

4. A rotary explosive-motor, comprising a cylinder, a mixing-chamber connecting therewith, a piston mounted in the cylinder, and provided with a diametrical channel and an air-inlet thereto, sectional and jointed pistonwings mounted to reciprocate in the channel, and to'foree the admitted air from the latter into the mixing-chamber under compression, and springs forcing said wings outwardly to hold them against the inner curved surface of said cylinder.

5. A rotary explosive-motor, comprising a cylinder, a mixing-chamber connecting there- With, a piston mounted in the cylinder, and provided with a diametrical channel and an air-inlet thereto, piston-wings mounted to reciprocate in said channel and to force the admitted air from the latter into the mixingchamber under compression, and jointed and sectional packings at the-outer ends of the Wings, adapted to adjust themselves to maintam close contact thereof with the inner surface of the cylinder.

6. A rotary explosive-motor, comprising a cylinder, a mixing-chamber connecting therewith, a piston mounted in the cylinder, and provided with a diametrical channel and an air-inlet thereto, and piston-wings mounted to reciprocate in the channel, and to force the admitted air from the channel into the mixingchamber under compression, the outer extremities ot' the wings being concaved and formed with dovetailed recesses, and provided -with self-adjusting packings having dovetailed projections fitting in said recesses.

n In testimony whereof 1 aihx my slgnaturc 1n presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. MARLITI.

VitneSses: i

H. K. HUNsAKEE,' B. P. CARDWELL. 

